Project Planning
- Preconstruction budget and schedule review
- Permitting, inspections and owner reviews tracked to closeout
- Specialty trade partners scheduled, coordinated and supervised by our superintendent
- Closeout records, warranties and as-built drawings delivered with the building
A site along I-40 beside the BNSF mainline is a logistics site whether the owner planned it or not, and Gallup has plenty of them. I-40 runs alongside the BNSF southern transcontinental mainline through the city, with Gallup interchanges from about exit 16 to exit 26, including NM 118 and US 491. We build the warehouses, transload yards, truck facilities and support buildings that take advantage of that corridor, and we pay particular attention to the details that keep trucks and trains moving.
The geography helps explain the market. Interstate 40 passes the north side of Gallup, US Route 491 has its southern end at I-40 in Gallup, and historic Route 66 runs through the center of town. Freight trains pass through on the BNSF Southern Transcon, and Amtrak's Southwest Chief serves the Gallup train station. A developer looking for truck access and rail proximity will find both here, and we help them lay out buildings that connect to those assets.
Gallup also sits at 6,647 feet, which is high. Cold winters, freezing cycles and snow loads set the design of roofs, foundations and utilities, and they limit the months in which concrete, masonry and roofing can be done. A schedule that ignores that fact will run late, so we plan around it.
Building in a short season
At this elevation, frost can arrive early and linger late. We aim to place foundations and slabs in the warmer months, close in buildings before hard freezes and leave interior work for winter. When pours must happen in cold weather, we use heated enclosures, insulated blankets and mixes designed for low temperatures.
Material delivery distances also add time. Steel, panels, doors and mechanical equipment travel long distances, so we order early and track each item. For owners with a firm opening date, our long-lead procurement planning is one of the most important services we provide.
Warehouses, terminals and public buildings
Typical building types include truck terminals and cross-docks, storage warehouses, retail centers, offices and civic buildings. For each, we begin with truck movement and access from the interchange, then design the site, the building and the dock layout in that order.
Gallup-McKinley County Public Schools covers 4,857 square miles, which makes it the largest New Mexico school district by area, and lists 33 current schools. Buildings spread across that much ground need maintenance shops, transportation facilities and renovations, and our school construction experience covers the planning needed to keep students safe near active work.
How we plan a job in a spread-out region
We listen to the owner first, then walk the site and the access routes ourselves. In a region with long distances between communities, details like where crews will stay, where materials will be stored and how inspections are scheduled matter more than they do in a metropolitan area.
We also talk with neighbors, local officials and utility providers early. Good relationships save time when something unexpected arises, and in a smaller community a contractor's reputation follows the work.
Air and rail service
Gallup Municipal Airport has one asphalt runway, 6/24, at 7,316 by 100 feet on 359 acres at 6,472 feet elevation, and Advanced Air provides scheduled service. The service gives executives and visiting trades a way to reach town, and it shapes the market for small aviation and corporate buildings.
Because the BNSF mainline and I-40 run side by side, rail-adjacent lots are in demand for transload and storage. If you are comparing Gallup with other freight corridors, our page on Grants and our overview of logistics and distribution clients describe similar work.
Cold, wind and traffic on the job
Winter work at nearly 6,650 feet means ice on scaffolds, frozen ground and short daylight. We inspect walking surfaces each morning, heat temporary enclosures safely and stage lifts only when wind and visibility allow. Crews working near I-40 or the railroad follow written traffic control plans and keep a safe distance from the right-of-way.
Public projects add school-calendar rules, background checks for staff on campus and tight control of deliveries during drop-off and pick-up hours. We brief every foreman on those rules before mobilization.
Where to go next
Owners weighing several sites in northwestern New Mexico may also want to read about our work in Farmington, where energy transition and healthcare drive the market, or in Albuquerque, which is the main supplier of materials and specialty trades for the region.
If your project is a large building with clear spans for storage, our clear-span rigid frame option is usually the most economical route, and we are happy to compare it with tilt-wall for your specific load and height needs.
Code basis and inspections
The New Mexico Commercial Building Code adopts the 2021 International Building Code as amended, effective July 14, 2023, replacing the 2015 code. Owners with older drawings or an existing building should know the change, since updates can affect structure, egress and energy requirements. We review existing documents against the current code at the start.
Inspections are scheduled with the state or local authority depending on the project. We call early, keep a rolling log and share it with owners so there is no confusion about what has been approved. For help with the front end, see our permitting and entitlements service.
Discuss your Gallup project
Describe the site, the use and the dates that matter. We will review the access, the weather and the approvals and give you a realistic plan.
Questions Owners Ask
Can a building here have access to rail?
The BNSF mainline and I-40 run side by side through town, and sites near both are attractive. Whether a spur is possible depends on the parcel and the railroad. We lay out your building so that a future spur remains possible even if you do not build one now.
How does the cold affect construction?
Cold slows concrete curing, limits mortar and stucco work and creates frost depth requirements for foundations. We use enclosures, heaters and adjusted mixes to keep working, and we plan the schedule so the most sensitive work happens in warmer months.
Do you build schools and public buildings?
We do. Public owners follow procurement rules, and we respond with complete proposals, clear schedules and attentive field supervision. With a district as large as Gallup-McKinley County, travel time between sites is a real factor, and we plan around it.
What does an Interstate interchange site need?
Look at truck turning, queueing, sight lines and the state highway department's access rules. A site with poor access will cost you more in the long run than a lot with a higher price and a clean entrance. We help evaluate parcels before you buy.
Can you help me prepare a budget before design?
Yes. Our preconstruction estimating uses site information, a program and a concept sketch to produce a range you can take to a lender, a board or a partner.